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- Retail Rundown 8.25.25
Retail Rundown 8.25.25
 | Security footage captured the chaos as gunfire broke out along University Drive in Huntsville, injuring one person in broad daylight. The disturbing clip shows a sudden burst of violence near busy retail establishments. Police are investigating the motive and searching for suspects, leaving residents shaken and questioning safety in high-traffic shopping areas. |
 | Three Philadelphia men have been charged in connection with a retail theft spree targeting Home Depot stores across four counties. Authorities say the suspects stole over $50,000 worth of merchandise, including power tools and vacuums, and resold the items through underground channels. A search of their homes uncovered thousands in stolen goods, cash, and illegal drugs, highlighting the broader impact of organized retail crime. |
 | An Iowa man has been sentenced after defrauding collectors and retailers out of $140,000 through a scheme involving Pokémon cards and other gaming items. He used fake listings and fraudulent transactions to amass a valuable stash before being caught. The case shows just how lucrative—and criminal—gaming collectibles can become in the wrong hands. |
 | A fight over a receipt at a Walmart in Florence, SC, escalated into a police response after customers and employees clashed near the exit. Witnesses reported yelling, pushing, and accusations of theft—all captured on store surveillance. The incident is the latest in a growing trend of retail confrontations turning chaotic. |
 | A Michigan judge has ruled that the man accused in a series of violent stabbings at a Walmart is mentally unfit to stand trial. The decision follows psychiatric evaluations that deemed the suspect incapable of understanding legal proceedings. The case will now shift to mental health oversight while victims and families await justice. |
Supply chains are facing unprecedented pressure from tariffs, shortages, and global disruption. At APEX, Walmart’s Mitchell Jacobs and ALTO’s Rhett Asher will dig into how these challenges are reshaping loss prevention strategies and forcing retailers to think differently about resilience. Don’t miss this must-attend session on navigating volatility and turning risk into opportunity.
 Crazy Customer Injures Herself To Try To Sue A Retail Store, But The Security Camera Footage Doesn’t Lie A customer staged an over-the-top injury inside a home décor store, declaring her intent to sue as she bled on the floor. The scene threw staff into a frenzy, delaying closing and leaving employees stunned by the chaos unfolding in front of them. However, the store’s security cameras captured everything—revealing that the woman intentionally caused her own fall in a clear attempt to commit fraud. Her plan caused a mess, but the truth was caught on tape. |  Retail crime task force proposed in response to Fred Meyer closures in western WA A permanent retail crime task force is being proposed to address retail theft in King County, in response to Kroger shutting down grocery stores in western Washington. King County Council member Claudia Balducci, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr held a joint press conference on Thursday to unveil the proposal. The task force would include two detectives and one prosecuting attorney dedicated to directly addressing the causes and responding to retail theft. |  Feds arrest two in connection with deadly Warren convenience store shooting Two Warren men face federal firearms charges in connection with a shooting at a convenience store that left one person dead and another injured. U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer announced on Wednesday that 32-year-old Jumal Ellis Rowe, and Rayjon Ray Mcelroy, 25, were arrested following an investigation into the Aug. 3 shooting at a Convenient Food Mart. Rowe is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and Mcelroy is charged with possessing ammunition. |
Join OpenEye at the NACS Show 2025
The annual NACS show brings together convenience and fuel retailing professionals to network, learn, and have fun as they see the latest innovations and advancements revolutionizing the industry. Join OpenEye at our booth to find out how our cloud video solutions enhance convenience store security and operations, including products and features such as:
Retail Analytics: Reduce shrink, improve customer service, and streamline investigations with the power of AI-based video analytics.
OpenEye Web Services: The cloud-managed video platform provides actionable intelligence and improves operational efficiency so you can stay focused on what matters most.
POS Connect: POS Connect gives you a more complete picture of your operations and sale by marrying point-of-sale data with video verification.
Cloud Cameras: OpenEye’s cloud cameras deliver all the benefits of OpenEye Web Services in a flexible, serverless architecture.
Don’t miss out!
Retailers ‘uniquely exposed’ to cyberattacks The recent spate of cyberattacks on retailers in the U.S. and U.K. is the result of those businesses’ common vulnerabilities coupled with criminals’ honed social engineering tactics, experts say. Attackers appear to have gained access to computer networks by using exposed or expired user credentials to mislead help desk and other employees into resetting passwords, among other tactics. | Beyond the Algorithm: The Human Heart of AI in Retail We have all been there. You visit a website looking for a specific item, and instantly a chat window pops up in the corner. “Hi there. How can I help you today?” it asks with relentless cheer. You type a question, and you get back a pre programmed, clunky response that does not even come close to addressing what you need. You sigh, close the window, and feel a little more disconnected from the brand than you did before you arrived. | Retailers Are Rethinking Retail Shrink With Computer Vision and Advanced Analytics In 2024, retail shrink was projected to reach $132 billion in losses globally, compared with $112 billion in 2022, according to a Capital One report. For retailers managing hundreds or thousands of locations, the challenge is not only stopping theft but doing so quickly. That’s why leaders are turning to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video surveillance and computer vision, which, give retailers more visibility. |
The Manager of Corporate Loss Prevention plays a critical leadership role in driving strategic asset protection initiatives across The Home Depot’s retail stores and supply chain facilities. This position focuses on safeguarding physical assets, ensuring life safety, and reducing shrink through innovative solutions and operational excellence.
From the Streets to Strategy: How Retired Charlotte Detective Anthony Finocchio Is Revolutionizing Business Protection
 Anthony Finocchio, CEO Shield Solutions Now | After dedicating 25 years to the Charlotte–Mecklenburg Police Department, retired detective Anthony Finocchio transitioned from fighting crime on the streets to defending businesses from behind the scenes. As the founder and CEO of Shield Solutions Now LLC, Finocchio has built a company that’s redefining how businesses protect their assets, employees, and customers. |
A Career Rooted in Justice
Finocchio’s law enforcement career was marked by distinction and innovation. He was a leading figure in combating organized retail theft, a growing crisis that has plagued retailers across North Carolina and beyond. His pioneering work led to the creation of CMPD’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force, which dismantled numerous high-profile theft rings and brought attention to the violent nature of these crimes. His efforts earned him accolades and positioned him as a national voice on retail crime prevention.
Evolving Consumer Risk Perceptions in Food Safety: Navigating Volatility and Resilience in Retail and Seafood Supply Chains The global food industry is undergoing a seismic shift in consumer risk perceptions, driven by an alarming surge in food safety recalls. Between 2023 and 2025, the U.S., Canada, and the EU reported over 1,000 food safety incidents, with recalls costing an estimated $1.92 billion in direct expenses and triggering long-term reputational damage. For investors, this volatility underscores a critical question: How can supply chains balance crisis mgt with resilience? | OSHA nominee likely to fail at the job of protecting workers David Keeling’s nomination to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently advanced from committee to the full Senate. As a health and safety executive at United Parcel Service, Keeling became notorious for resisting worker demands that his company install air conditioning in trucks so delivery drivers could avoid severe heat-related injuries. Much like UPS drivers, Keeling’s nomination has cooked in the sun all summer, awaiting confirmation. |  |
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